Summer is a great time of year to paint the garden fence because it’s typically a time when families spend more time outside.

For those looking to maximise their outdoor area this summer, gardening expert Fiona Jenkins from MyJobQuote has shared the ideal colours.

1. Light grey

Light grey is one of the nation’s favoured fence colour options, as it’s timeless and helps to create the illusion of more space.

The expert shared: “Light grey softens and blurs the frame of your garden, making it look much bigger than it is.

“Lighter colours such as grey tend to reflect more light than dark colours, making it feel much bigger and open, enhancing the perception of space.

“It’s a great option if you have more foliage-based plants rather than flowers throughout your garden too as the contrast between the light hue of the fence draws the eye outward.”

This makes the boundaries of the garden appear less constrictive and enhances the sense of space.

2. Sage green

Soft green is becoming an extremely popular colour, both within the home and outside the home.

It’s a great fence colour, especially if your garden contains plenty of green border plants. The expert said: “Adding more green not only visually extends the landscape but makes garden boundaries look less conspicuous, creating a feeling of expansiveness.”

3. Light blue

The gardening expert continued: “Not all fence colours have to be neutral colours either. Light blue is often associated with the sky on a clear, summer’s day and by painting fences light blue, you mimic the colour of the sky, creating the colour of an expansive overhead space.

“Not only that, but the contrast of the light blue with any greenery makes vegetation stand out more prominently, therefore casting the eye upward and creating a sense of depth and openness in the garden.”

4. Neutral tones

Neutral tones are a favourite in Mediterranean-themed gardens as they serve as a natural background for plants to stand out.

According to the pro, the lack of “visual distraction” makes the garden appear “much larger” and expansive.

Fiona noted: “Not only that, but beige and ivory tones have a minimalist feel which emphasises simplicity and openness, a contemporary garden trend that we’re seeing a lot of right now.

“By keeping the colour palette as simple as possible, they create a clean and uncluttered look that creates a spacious feel in the garden.”

Whilst light grey, sage green, light blue and neutral tones can make the garden appear bigger, there are some colours to avoid which can make your space feel much smaller.

Fiona continued: “Fences with high contrast colours or include busy patterns and intricate designs can overwhelm the visual space and make the garden feel smaller, as they break up the continuity of the garden space.”

“Other constricting colours include bold or vibrant warm tones such as oranges, red-toned browns and yellows as they can cause the area to feel overly ‘busy’ and cluttered.”